The Cationminus signpi Interaction.

9-Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) amino acids were first used for solid phase peptide synthesis a little more than a decade ago. Since that time, Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis methodology has been greatly enhanced by the introduction of a variety of solid supports, linkages, and side chain protecting groups, as well as by increased understanding of solvation conditions. These advances have led to many impressive syntheses, such as those of biologically active and isotopically labeled peptides and small proteins. The great variety of conditions under which Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis may be carried out represents a truly "orthogonal" scheme, and thus offers many unique opportunities for bioorganic chemistry.

Solid phase peptide synthesis utilizing 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl amino acids

G-quadruplexes are higher-order DNA and RNA structures formed from G-rich sequences that are built around tetrads of hydrogen-bonded guanine bases. Potential quadruplex sequences have been identified in G-rich eukaryotic telomeres, and more recently in non-telomeric genomic DNA, e.g. in nuclease-hypersensitive promoter regions. The natural role and biological validation of these structures is starting to be explored, and there is particular interest in them as targets for therapeutic intervention. This survey focuses on the folding and structural features on quadruplexes formed from telomeric and non-telomeric DNA sequences, and examines fundamental aspects of topology and the emerging relationships with sequence. Emphasis is placed on information from the high-resolution methods of X-ray crystallography and NMR, and their scope and current limitations are discussed. Such information, together with biological insights, will be important for the discovery of drugs targeting quadruplexes from particular genes.

Quadruplex DNA: sequence, topology and structure

This paper describes the development of a simple empirical scoring function designed to estimate the free energy of binding for a protein-ligand complex when the 3D structure of the complex is known or can be approximated. The function uses simple contact terms to estimate lipophilic and metal-ligand binding contributions, a simple explicit form for hydrogen bonds and a term which penalises flexibility. The coefficients of each term are obtained using a regression based on 82 ligand-receptor complexes for which the binding affinity is known. The function reproduces the binding affinity of the complexes with a cross-validated error of 8.68 kJ/mol. Tests on internal consistency indicate that the coefficients obtained are stable to changes in the composition of the training set. The function is also tested on two test sets containing a further 20 and 10 complexes, respectively. The deficiencies of this type of function are discussed and it is compared to approaches by other workers.

Empirical scoring functions: I. The development of a fast empirical scoring function to estimate the binding affinity of ligands in receptor complexes

We have analyzed the rings, ring systems, and frameworks in drugs listed in the FDA Orange Book to understand the frequency, timelines, molecular property space, and the application of these rings in different therapeutic areas and target classes. This analysis shows that there are only 351 ring systems and 1197 frameworks in drugs that came onto the market before 2013. Furthermore, on average six new ring systems enter drug space each year and approximately 28% of new drugs contain a new ring system. Moreover, it is very unusual for a drug to contain more than one new ring system and the majority of the most frequently used ring systems (83%) were first used in drugs developed prior to 1983. These observations give insight into the chemical novelty of drugs and potentially efficient ways to assess compound libraries and develop compounds from hit identification to lead optimization and beyond.

Rings in Drugs

This invention describes novel pyrazole compounds of formula (IV) wherein Ring D is a 5-7 membered monocyclic ring or 8-10 membered bicyclic ring selected from aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or carbocyclyl; R?x and Ry? are independently selected from T-R3, or taken together with their intervening atoms to form a fused, unsaturated or partially unsaturated, 5-8 membered ring having 1-3 ring heteroatoms selected from oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen; and R2, R2', and T, and R3 are as described in the specification. The compounds are useful as protein kinase inhibitors, especially as inhibitors of aurora-2 and GSK-3, for treating diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzehimer's disease.

Pyrazole compounds useful as protein kinase inhititors

The present invention provides a compound of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or mixtures thereof. These compounds are inhibitors of protein kinases, particularly inhibitors of GSK mammalian protein kinase, and more particularly inhibitors of GSK-3 mammalian protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of utilizing those compounds and compositions in the treatment of various protein kinase mediated disorders.

Compositions useful as inhibitors of protein kinases

The crystal structure of the tandem SH2 domains of human ZAP-70 in complex with a peptide derived from the ζ-subunit of the T-cell receptor reveals an unanticipated interaction between the two domains. A coiled coil of α-helices connects the two SH2 domains, producing an interface that constitutes one of the two critical phosphotyrosine binding sites. These and other unique features provide the molecular basis for highly selective association of ZAP-70 with the T-cell receptor.

Molecular basis for interaction of the protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 with the T-cell receptor

What Do Medicinal Chemists Actually Make? A 50-Year Retrospective

The present invention provide a compound of formula I or II:or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as described in the specification. These compounds are inhibitors of protein kinase, particularly inhibitors of JNK, a mammalian proteinkinase involved cell proliferation, cell death and response to extracellular stimuli; and Src-family kinases, especially Src and Lck kinases. These compounds are also inhibitors of GSK3 and CDK2 kinases. The invention also relates to methods for producing these inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inhibitors of the invention and methods of utilizing those compositions in the treatment and prevention of various disorders.

Jeremy Green

Papers

Pyrazole compounds useful as protein kinase inhititors

Compositions useful as inhibitors of protein kinases

Molecular basis for interaction of the protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 with the T-cell receptor

What Do Medicinal Chemists Actually Make? A 50-Year Retrospective

Inhibitors of c-jun n-terminal kinases (jnk) and other protein kinases